TOP 7 THINGS THAT MUST BE BANNED AT GURDWARAS FOR HEALTHIER LANGAR

Many people cooking langar at Gurdwara Sahib around the world are unaware of the potentially harmful ingredients. It’s important to cook langar with the healthiest ingredients and to promote awareness of things that can be harmful to the body.
Top 10 Unhealthy Cancer-Causing Foods:

1. Hydrogenated Oils:
Hydrogenated oils are most often used to preserve processed foods and keep them stable on store shelves. Unfortunately these oils are not healthy because they alter the structure and flexibility of cell membranes throughout the human body. This can lead to a variety of health conditions and diseases including cancer. Some food manufacturers are finally slowly removing the use of hydrogenated oils and replacing them with palm oil and other healthier, more stable alternatives, but trans fats are still quite commonly used in processed foods. Look for Hydrogenated oils such as vegetable oil, vegetable shortening, margarine, coffee creamers shortening should be avoided. Many packaged foods and baked goods contain hydrogenated labels so read the label and once you know it contains it you can avoid it and opt for a healthier alternative!

2. Produce With High Pesticide Content (you’d be surprised):

There are a few select fruits and vegetables however that contain abnormally high levels of cancer causing pesticides if not grown organically.

These fruits include apples, grapes, strawberries, peaches, celery, spinach, sweet bell peppers, nectarines, peaches, cucumbers, potatoes, cherry tomatoes, lettuce, blueberries. There’s a list online of foods called “The Dirty Dozen” which is a list of fruits and vegetables that contain the highest levels of pesticides. Some of the fruits and vegetables above have been found to contain over 50 chemicals from pesticides in them!

3. Sugar Sugar! Refined Sugar:

Sugar feeds cancer cells directly. High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is no better, cancer cells have been shown to metabolize fructose corn syrup in order to proliferate cancer further. Foods like cookies, cakes, pies, sodas, fruit juices, even sauces, cereals and breads contain sugar! Many other processed foods are loaded with HFCS and/or sugar. It makes sense that cancer is on the rise! Not only that but cancer cells have more insulin receptors than healthy cells. This means that the sugar to insulin spike goes to cancer growth and proliferation first and foremost! Avoid high fructose corn syrup and avoid white sugar. There are plenty of healthier alternatives.
4. White Flour:
White bread and white sugar are two of the worst culprits. White flour breaks down in the body and as a carbohydrate feeds cancer. A study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, found that regular consumption of refined carbohydrates was caused a 220 percent increase in breast cancer among women. White flour and white bread is a high glycemic food and should be avoided. Think breads, pastries and anything with white flour.

5. Soda (or as we call it in the midwest ‘Pop!’):
Soda has been shown to cause cancer as well. Soda is loaded with sugar, chemicals in the formulation, and food dyes, soda causes the body to become more acidic. When the body is a more acidic environment cancer cells can proliferate faster. Soda chemicals like caramel color and its derivative 4-methylimidazole (4-MI) have also specifically been linked to causing cancer.

6. Artificial Sweeteners (Diet) Foods:
Conventional soda and sugar is not healthy and they both feed cancer but artificial sweeteners seem to be even worse. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) found that more than 20 separate research studies found that aspartame, one of the most common artificial sweeteners found in food products, cause multiple illnesses including both birth defects and cancer. Sucralose (Splenda), saccharin and even other artificial sweeteners beyond these have also been linked to causing cancer. Avoid aspartame, splenda and diet sodas that contain these.

7. GMO Foods:
GMO Foods (otherwise known as genetically modified foods or genetically modified organisms) are foods that have been genetically altered in a lab. The seeds take a characteristic from one plant or animal and splice it with another gene to create a new “bulletproof” seed. These “bulletproof” seeds have failed horribly. They depend on the use of pesticides and chemicals (specifically the product Round-Up) and they become contaminated with these pesticides and chemicals. There have been multiple independent studies showing that GMO foods cause cancer and tumor growth. The most commonly found GMO foods are corn, canola and soy. You can best avoid GMO foods by avoiding corn, soy and canola (unless it’s organic). You can also avoid GMO foods by only buying certified organic, certified NON-GMO project verified foods. If the food contains the USDA Organic and NON-GMO project verified label then you’re good!

This is the list to know, and understand. If you avoid these foods you’re doing your best to prevent cancer and what more can you do than that? Also, as you may have noticed the recurring theme here is chemicals, chemicals in your food. By avoiding foods with chemicals, pesticides or preservatives you also avoid the neurodegenerative, cardiovascular diseases and conditions as well as the aches and pains that come with these foods as a by-product of eating them. You’ll feel better, have more energy, sleep better and enjoy life more today by simply choosing to eat healthier. Please spread the word and share this information with your friends and family, it’s very important.